Dear Mexican: Why Do Street Tacos Have Double Tortillas?

Dear Mexican: I live in New York, where taco trucks are a fairly recent addition to the urban landscape. I’ve noticed that they always serve their tacos with double tortillas. Why? I’m a longtime lover of Mexican food and own several Mexican cookbooks, but their recipes never call for this. Also, what is the “right” way to eat a double-tortilla taco? I generally split the filling between the two tortillas, but I have no idea whether I’m just making a fool out of myself.
Gourmet Gringa

Dear Gabacha: “Actually, double tortillas are common in Mexico,” says Lesley Téllez, author of the awesome nuevo book Eat Mexico: Recipes From Mexico City’s Streets, Markets and Fondas and a Puebla York resident herself. “Lots of Mexico City street vendors serve their tacos on two tortillas, or they’ll ask if clients want one or two, in case they’re watching their waistlines. Particularly with a liquidy filling like a guisado, the first tortilla breaks, so the second one serves as backup. How you eat your taco is up to you — como quieras.”

Good job, Lesley! The Mexican will only add that you shouldn’t add peas to your tacos…HA!

Dear Mexican: Here’s a spicy tamale for you. Why do Mexicans tear each other down? Why do they hate to see another Mexican doing better than themselves? They see fellow Mexicans climbing to the top, and rather than cheer them on, they throw stones, grab at their ankles and drag them back down. Yes, I’m a Mexican with an education. I have a strong work ethic, and I work hard to get what I have, yet I feel despised by fellow Mexicans who think that I think I’m better than them. One of my former Mexican supervisors didn’t like it because I could communicate and articulate with gabacho supervisors on their level. He verbally berated me and called me a suck-ass in front of a group of employees. Could have been a nice EEO complaint, but I just said “Adiós and Besa mi culo” and walked out. Even the local drunks in my barrio look at me dirty because “I don’t talk to them.” Is it because they would rather see me drunk and belligerent with them all day behind the local icehouse?

I have no tolerance for stupidity, whether it’s black, white, Mexican or otherwise. I sell aluminum cans to supplement my income, so, no, I don’t think I’m better, especially when I’m diggin’ in a trash can. Remember the movie La Bamba? Esai Morales played Ritchie’s brother, who could not be happy for his brother’s success. Okay, Mexican: Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
Just Another Mexican

Dear Pocho: You know who hates Mexicans more than Donald Trump? Mexicans. I wish there was a punchline for this, but there ain’t.